Building Inspired Students Tag

Learning About Sundials 

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Robots And Our Futures

This term, the Year 5’s have been interestingly looking at the impact of modern technology on our world. We have specifically looked at Robots taking over our jobs. The students were asked to work in groups of 4 or 5 and put together a news broadcast, where they interview a factory owner who has decided to replace his factory workers with Robots.

Here is an example of a News Broadcast written by Nuraan Price (Year 5 Student)

News Reporter: Good morning all and thank you for joining our live broadcast! We have an interesting crisis for you this morning between a factory owner and his workers. Apparently he wants to replace them with robots! I am here today with all the people involved including Dave; the owner of the factory, one of his workers, the son of this worker and last but not least, the robot designer herself! Let’s start off with you Dave. How’s it going?

Factory Owner: Morning y’all, my name is Dave, and I’m the owner of Sweets & Treats, the Candy Factory.

News Reporter: So tell us Dave, what is the future you see for Sweets & Treats?

Factory Owner: Well, I’m a little ashamed to say, but Sweet & Treats hasn’t been doing so well this last year. And I know our employees are quite tired and a little stressed out trying to get orders and money in, so yeah, we’re struggling. Unfortunately, the factory might have to close down soon if this keeps up. So to anyone listening, go and order or buy some of Sweets & Treats’ delicious candy today! It’s available at any shop near you!

News Reporter: That must be hard, so what’s the deal with the robots?

Factory Owner: I think what’s best for the factory is for robots to do the work. That way all the candy can be made more cheaply and they can work faster for long periods and without making any mistakes. I am very aware this means that many people at my factory will lose their jobs, so when we make enough money from the robots I will give those who need it $1000 just to get them on their feet and help everyone out a little bit. The robots will probably be here and ready by January.

News Reporter: Thank you so much for sharing your opinion with us Dave! And you’re right, this must have a big impact on your workers, in fact we have one right here with us today! Would you mind telling us your name?

Factory Worker: Hello! Thank you for having me, my name is Tom, and I currently work at Sweets & Treats!

News Reporter: How has Dave’s new decision affected you and your life?

Factory Worker: Well I’ve worked at the factory for 7 years now and I’m one of Dave’s best workers and honestly I find it a little offensive that Dave would just throw us under the bus like that haha, but I know that he is just doing what’s best for the company and I respect that. I am however a little worried that I won’t be able to support my family anymore and trying to find a new job will be extremely hard for me especially during these times. Of course Dave’s $1000 will help a lot and I really appreciate it but I’m afraid that it won’t be enough until I find a job.

News Reporter: Wow, I hope it goes well for you and thank you for sharing with us. We also have your son here today to hear his say in the matter. Hi, would you mind introducing yourself?

Factory Worker’s Son: Hello there, my name is Alex and I’m 12 years old.

News Reporter: How are you today?

Alex: I’m good and you?

News Reporter: I’m very well thank you. How do you feel about the situation your dad is in right now?

Alex: Um, well I’m a little scared that my dad won’t be able to provide for me and my mom, but I think that it’s really nice of Dave to give us $1000. Another thing I’m worried about is my future. I’ve been studying and working as hard as I can in school and I’ve been getting A’s but I don’t know what job I’ll be able to get when I’m older since robots are taking over so many jobs. My mom says I can try to become a robot designer or programmer since robots can’t take over that job and I think that’s a great idea and it would be really cool to do, but I’m afraid that I’m not smart enough or it will be too difficult.

News Reporter: Don’t be silly Alex! Of course you’re smart enough! You can be anything you want to be. And if you do decide to study it, it will get easier over time. And I hope you enjoy it! Thank you to you and your father for sharing your sides of the story with us and I wish you the best of luck! I have one more person here with me, and that is the Robot Designer herself!

Robot Designer: Hi everyone, my name is Wendy Hensler. I’m 27 years old and I work for the tech company, AI. Inc.

News Reporter: So how has Dave’s decision helped your company?

Robot Designer: Sweets & Treats is the third company to call us and ask for this, we’ve been very busy and it’s pretty exciting to be able to design and make more robots than ever. I studied hard to become a robot designer, I love my job and I’m so happy to be able to work for one of the best tech companies in the country. Many manufacturers are moving to automation, to compete with overseas companies that are making the same product for much cheaper. I feel that without Robots, many companies will have to close down, but of course humans are just as powerful too.

News Reporter: Well there you have it folks, one robot and so many lives affected, is this the future? Good or Bad? I guess only time will tell. Well thank you to everyone for joining me today and thank you for sticking around, and I’ll see you next time folks, Good morning!

*End of interview*

We can never predict what will happen in the future, but we can rest easy knowing that we are preparing our students to ask the right questions and shape the world they want to live in.

Nadia Mahomed

Year 5 Teacher

High Frequency Words

Last week we had a High Frequency Word Hunt. The students had to go and find flashcards of words on the playground according to a list in pairs. They thoroughly enjoyed this activity and excitedly showed the teachers all the words they could find from their lists.

Learning to read is a complex process, which involves many skills. Two of these skills is phonological knowledge and the other is memorising High Frequency Words. Phonological knowledge helps students to decode or sound out words. That is why it is more important to know the phonetic sound of letters rather than the alphabet name, so that words can be spelt out phonetically, like the word c-a-t. Knowledge of High Frequency words is important for those words that cannot be sounded out phonetically, such as the word ‘you’ or ‘the’. These words commonly occur in sentences, hence the term High Frequency Words. That is also why students have greater confidence and fluency when they have been spending time memorising High Frequency Words as part of their reading homework at home.

It’s important that parents try to make learning High Frequency Words fun. Here are some helpful ideas in the links below:

https://www.curiousworld.com/blog/sight-word-games

https://www.weareteachers.com/sight-word-activities/

https://www.themeasuredmom.com/25-low-prep-sight-word-activities/

https://www.learnwithhomer.com/homer-blog/1852/4-highly-effective-fun-sight-word-games-help-kids-learn/

Bronwen Nuthall

Reception Year Teacher

The upcoming Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level examinations and how to prepare for them

The October/November Cambridge IGCSE and AS/A Level examinations are fast approaching, with the first examinations already taking place on 28 September 2021. It is vital that students prepare themselves for these examinations.

Below are some helpful hints and tips for preparing for the examinations:

• Familiarise yourself with your examination timetable.
• Ensure that you know exactly:

             – what work will be covered in each subject;

             – the format of each examination paper;

             – the time allocation;

             – the equipment that may be needed for the examination (e.g. calculator for mathematics).

• Get copies of old examination papers and worksheets.
• By now, all your notes should be up to date and you should have all that you need to study effectively for the examinations.
• Prepare your study area. Some things to consider are:

             – have a good source of light;

             – have lots of paper available;

             – a clear work surface;

             – coloured pens if you prefer to use colour;

             – light or unobtrusive music if you prefer to learn with music.

• Keeping healthy! Eat fresh foods such as fruit and nuts. Pile up on the vegetables in the evenings and drink plenty of water and fruit juice to keep the flu at bay.  The brain needs to be fed well to perform at its optimum.
• Try not to nibble on too many chocolates and sweets while studying. 

• That said, the odd sweet or chocolate will provide an energy boost when you feel really tired. 

• Getting a good night’s rest is also important. Sleep will rejuvenate you and keep you going.

Devising a Revision Timetable:

If you plan your revision carefully, you will enjoy the feeling of being well prepared for the examinations, secure in the knowledge that you have done your best and have covered all the work.

• Create a calendar for this purpose, using bright colours/larger paper etc.
• Start by marking in the dates and times of your examinations.
• Shade in the dates and times when you know you have other commitments, e.g. sports fixtures/family function.
• Work out how much time you would need per section per subject. Remember to spend more time on those subjects you find more difficult.
• Using a pencil, begin to draw up your revision timetable by writing in the subject and the sections that you wish to cover each day.
• You could leave a revision time blank each week, as a “safety net” for work not covered as planned. This may be as a result of those unforeseen circumstances that make life interesting.
• Do not get stressed out if you don’t stick rigidly to the timetable. Sometimes you start by expecting to cover too much at one time.  The main idea is to get you to focus on the work that needs to be covered and to work towards a goal.
• Be sure to timetable rest and relaxation.
• Before changing subjects, take a longer break of about 20 – 30 minutes and try to get outside or do something different.

Study Methods:

Each one of you will have your own method of studying and it is important that you feel comfortable with your chosen style.  It is equally important that you admit if your method has not worked in the past.

Here are some tips that you may like to try out.  These are tried and tested methods.

• Start by reading through a section from beginning to end. This will give you an overview of what is to come.  Focus on headings and pictures and diagrams.
• Ask questions as to the content of the section (why, what, when, where, how and who?). This will help to get your mind in touch with the main areas within each section (e.g.  What do I need to know about this topic?  What exactly is this text about?  How does this section link up with what I have just studied?).
• Re-read the passage with the aim of answering your questions. Look up words you do not understand, refer closely to graphs and diagrams, highlight important ideas in colour, etc.  Do not try to make notes at this stage.
• Aim to check that you have understood the work. Think about the passage and focus on key points. Re-read the passage, making notes on the relevant material.  This may take the form of block notes or diagrammatic notes e.g. mind maps/spider diagrams.
• It is a good idea to redo mathematics exercises and worksheets as well as work through past papers.
• Diagrams can become excellent forms of summary in subjects such as geography and biology. A diagram should be drawn clearly with large labels for easy identification.
• When encouraging a difficulty concept, try to break it up into smaller units and talk your way through the steps of the problem.
• If you have difficulty remembering something, pin up key words on your bedroom wall or cupboard door as a constant reminder. Each time you walk past the word, stop, and ask yourself a question or two about it to trigger a response.
• In language, you need to understand the rule to apply it, e.g. rules for the past and present tense.
• Review. Aim to ensure that you remember what you have learned by reviewing worksheets/past papers/testing yourself with questions that you set or working with a friend and testing each other verbally.

Just before the examination:

• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Have a good breakfast.
• Arrive at the venue with time to spare.
• Make sure you have the right equipment, tissues, watch, etc.

During the examination:

• Don’t rush into answering questions.
• Read the instructions at the beginning to ensure that you know how to answer all the questions and how many questions to answer.
• Read through the questions carefully.
• If there is a choice of questions, make your choice carefully. Underline key words in the questions.
• Stick to the time plan given to you by your teacher.
• At the end of the examination, if you have time, read through your paper to check that you have answered all the questions.

I would like to wish all students the best with their 2021 examinations.

Julian Harrison

Cambridge Examinations Officer

Saving Our Planet

In Year 1 we have been learning about, ‘Saving our Planet’ in Global Perspectives.

We also went on a litter walk around the school. My class showed such passion and commitment to cleaning up the litter in and around the school, I am so proud of them all.

I have even had reports from parents informing me that their child picks up litter when they are out walking at the beach.

They have been working very hard and even created their own display for our classroom’s ‘Art and Design’ board, to raise awareness about litter.

Well done Year 1!

Charlotte Cronje

Year 1 Teacher

Year 7 and 8 Art

Art, caft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. A high-quality Art and Design education should engage, inspire and challenge students, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of Art, Craft and Design.

As students progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art and Design. They should also know how Art and Design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation. Therefore, exposure to various fields and techniques is what Art in Year 7 and 8 is all about.

At the start of Year 7, we focus on the formal elements of Art as well as the principles of Design. These make up the foundation needed to create all artwork.

During Term 2, we started with teaching students the skills to draw different facial features. After this, they had to put their newly acquired skills to use by drawing a portrait of our principal from a photo. The results are astounding. This is in preparation for Year 8 where they do self-portraits.

Colourful Mandalas were the order of the day in their June practical exam. This served as yet another opportunity to show their creative skills and freedom of expression. Currently the Year 7’s are busy with paint blending while the Year 8’s are exploring the world of Graphic Design. They are designing their own emotion-inspired font and using this in further practical tasks.

In Term 4, both Year groups will be exploring other areas of Art and Design as well. The purpose of exposure to the various areas of Art and Design is to help students make a more informed decision when it comes to taking Art as a subject at IGCSE or AS Level.

Art in Year 7 and 8 is exciting, challenging and a test for student’s creativity, thinking, hard work and dedication.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here are a few examples of what the Year 7 and 8’s have been up to thus far in 2021…

Ane Gornall

Year 7 and 8 Art and Design Teacher

Picasso, Pianos and Portraits!

The Year 4’s have been focusing on an interesting technique in Art and Design for the past few weeks, namely Cubism.

A few facts about Cubism:

• Cubism is a style of Art invented in 1907.
• It was a very different way of painting to anything that had been done before.
• In Cubism, an artist tried to show different views of the same object or person all together in one painting. When you look at a Cubist painting, you might see the front, side and back of the same object.
• Cubist artists tried to break an object or person up into different parts. This often made the painting look like it was made up of geometric shapes like cubes.

Pablo Picasso was one of the first artists to explore Cubism. He wanted to paint things that he felt, remembered and saw all in one painting. Some of his most famous creations are the guitar sculptures made of cardboard and sheet metal, and the painting The Weeping Woman. We used these two art works as inspiration to create our masterpieces.

Have a look at our beautiful paintings of Picasso’s guitar and portraits using pastels and the Cubism technique.

“It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” – Pablo Picasso

Ria du Plessis

Year 4 Coordinator

Greeting Cards!

Unfortunately, with the arrival of Social Media, the exchange of actual greeting cards seems to have dwindled. It’s far easier to type a message using Facebook or Instagram, than hand selecting, or even making the traditional greeting card the older generation remember so fondly!

The making of greeting cards can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians and through the middle ages. The invention of the postage stamp in 1840 revolutionised the distribution of these cards, and in 1930, the company Hallmark was established with their sole purpose to create and print greeting cards for many different occasions.

Luckily, children really enjoy making cards. It allows them to explore their creativity. What teacher, parent or friend isn’t delighted to receive a handmade card from a child? Just give them cardboard, colouring crayons, scissors and glue and the results are a work of love.

Kim Coetzer

Year 2 Teacher

The Importance Of Outside Play

One of the main ways children learn and develop their gross motor skills is through playtime, on the playground, during outside time. As they play, their gross motor skills improve even without them knowing they are actually working on these abilities.

How playground equipment helps develop these skills:

• Climbing a ladder up to a slide or steps helps children learn to start balancing and shifting their weight. Going down a slide, children experiment with different body positions while working on balance and control of their bodies.
• While they are on swings they are in motion which helps them work on balance and coordination. When kids learn to pump up their feet to propel themselves on the swings, they work on sequencing and coordinating their body parts and movements to control the swing.
• The jungle gym strengthens arms, legs, their core and even their fingers. It provides an excellent way to work on balance, coordination and sequencing of which hand or foot moves next.
• The monkey bars strengthen hands and upper body strength as well as developing coordination and sequencing.

While there are many physical benefits to outside play, it provides a huge opportunity for social development in children as well. They also develop stronger reasoning and observation skills, giving them the opportunity to explore the world from a different perspective.

There are endless benefits to playing outside!

Cindy Nunan

Nursery and Pre-Reception Teacher